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(No Model.) I I 5 v E. A. SHUMWAY STEP LADDER AND TRESTLE. No. 302,040. Patentgd J111y'15, 1884.

/ awvwwtm/ N, PETERS. Pnmumc n m. Washington D. c

UNITE STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. sHUMWAY, or WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA.

STEP-LADDER AND TRESTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,040, dated July 15, 1884.

k I Application filed February 12, 1 884. (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. SHUMWAY, of Walnut Creek, county of Contra Costa, and State of California, have invented anlmprovement in Step-Ladder and Trestle; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improved construction for step-ladders, trestles, or supporting-frames, which have the upper ends united together, so that the lower ends may be separated to form a bracing-support.

It consists of side bars with their upper ends bored out at their meeting-points to receive-short cylinders, which fit half in each bar, and are retained in place by straps. The

upper ends of the bars are cut away to form an obtuse angle with the inner edges at this point, to allow the lower ends to be opened and closed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention,

Figure 1 is a view of my device applied to a step-ladder. Fig. 2 shows it applied to atrestle. Fig. 3 is a detail ofconstruction. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections.

A A are the two parts forming one side of the ladder or trestle, the two sides being of similar construction. The upper inside edges are beveled off,as shown at a, so as to form an obtuse angle with the main portion, and they are clamped together and ahole bored through at this angle, one-half being made in each part. The clamps being removed, a roller or short cylinder, B, is introduced into the hole, and straps C, passing around the pieces A, have their ends secured by-a pin, b,-which passes through the center of the roller. The roller is thus held in place between the two pieces- A, so that they turn about it, and the ladder may thus be opened and closed. Vhen opened,

the beveled-edges a come in contact and act as a a brace,while the lower ends are separated.

This device may be applied to a step-ladder having steps on one side and braces at the other,or it may be used upon what is known as a French ladder, 7 having steps upon both sides, or upon trestles, such as are used by painters and others. 7 In French or painters ladders, having steps upon both sides,alternating so as to give short rises for the staging which they support, the rivets by which the metal straps Gare secured are replaced by a rod which extends entirely across from one side to the other, and is headed down or otherwise secured upon the outside of the outer straps. A stout tube of gaspipe, D, incloses the rod extending between the sides of the ladder, and forms a top stepof suflicient strength to act as a support.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r In astep-ladder or trestle, the front and rear sides having the tops cut-away to form an obtuse angle with their inneredges, and bored out to receive a roller or cylinder at the angle,

a part of which fits into each side, in combination with straps clasping the sides, and bolts passing through their ends and the center of the roller, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto setmy hand.

EDW'ARD A. SHUMW'AY.

Witnesses:

WM. J. DERIOKSON, S. H. NoURsE. 

